Stuck Bolts: atf and acetone?

[e30 Luv]

So the other week my roommate heard that mixing equal parts ATF and Acetone was supposed to be the best working penetrating oil to help get bolts unstuck. I was wondering if anybody here has heard this and tried it.

We mixed some up and put it into a fill-your-own-aerosol can from harbor freight, and I have been using it all this week. I can't really tell if its working or not. I have been using PB blaster for roughly the past 2 years and that seems to work decent, but nothing miraculous.

I searched google and found this guys page who compares different penetrating oils, but he doesn't report back on his results from the acetone and atf mix :

http://www.mightythunder.org/workshop/penetrating-oils/

Let me know if anybody here has heard this or tried it. I saw a post on a different forum where a guy thought it was bogus because it didn't work for him.

[ethree]

I'd just use wd40 or pb blaster. Acetone is nasty stuff you don't want to handle too much and what happens if it gets on a painted surface?

[jlevie]

ATF (or any other light oil) and acetone would probably work about as well as most penetrating oils until the acetone evaporated, which happens rather quickly. One advantage of a commercial preparation, like PBlaster or Kroil is their very low volatility while still being very low viscosity. That means that they don't evaporate and have time to penetrate a joint.

ethree, WD40 isn't a penetrating oil, but rather is a "water displacement" product. People use it as a penetrating oil or even as a lubricant, but it is neither of those things.

[Disaster Inc]

For what its worth...I am a true believer in PB Blaster, buy the gallon size that comes with the re-fillable metal spray bottle, Auto Zone carries it. Here in rusty New England its the second best thing to an oxy/acetylene torch. Tough jobs I pre-soak with PB for a couple days prior.

[ethree]

ethree, WD40 isn't a penetrating oil, but rather is a "water displacement" product. People use it as a penetrating oil or even as a lubricant, but it is neither of those things.

I understand that, however in my experience it works just as well as pb blaster for freeing stuck bolts. It also works great for cleaning greasy parts. Keep in mind I'm in california so I don't see too many bolts that are actually rusty.

[scobaru]

what are u trying to unbolt? I'd try heat. usually I use PB blaster and heat and then some more pb blaster and some more heat then it usually comes undone

[e30 Luv]

Thanks for the replies, but I strip volkswagens for a living and I live in the midwest. I see stuck and rusty bolts everyday, I am well aware of how to get bolts unstuck. We have an oxy/acetylene torch, mapp torch, propane torch, pb blaster, and a wide variety of crowbars, pipes, and other long handled torque-acquiring wrenches.

I am only asking if anyone has any experience with the ATF + acetone mix. I want to know if it is an urban legend or if it actually works. As far as I can tell from using it, its nothing special.

And I use gloves, eye-wear, and sometimes respiratory protection. We are OSHA approved.